News from Conference

Welcome Your 2007-2008 APCO Board of Officers

Congratulations to newly elected President Willis Carter (LA), President Elect Chris Fischer (WA), First Vice President Richard Mirgon (NV) and Second Vice President Bill Carrow (DE). Visit http://www.apcointl.com/new/documents/Willis-Carter-2007-Blue-and-White-Gala-Remarks.doc to view President Carter's remarks from the Blue and White Gala.

The State of the Association is Great!

Visit http://www.apcointl.com/new/documents/2007-APCO-State-of-the-Association.doc to view Executive Director George Rice's State of the Association address to the APCO members on August 5.

FCC Chairman Martin Addresses APCO's Membership

On August 7, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin addressed the attendees of APCO International's 73rd Annual Conference.  Visit http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/openAttachment.do?link=DOC-275812A1.pdf to view his remarks.

APCO Members Seek Action on Wireless Accuracy

The quorum of APCO International voted unanimously to endorse a resolution encouraging action from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting APCO International's wireless accuracy position.  The resolution was unanimously endorsed as amended at the First General Business Session of the APCO International 73rd Annual Conference and Exposition in Baltimore, Md. on August 5. Visit http://www.apcointl.com/new/news/conference-locate-resolution.php for more information.

Congratulations to AFC Advisor Award Winners

Congratulations to AFC Advisor of the Year Rodney Spell of North Carolina, AFC Rookie of the Year Mike Voss of Washington and AFC Most Improved Advisor Fred Rosencrans of Pennsylvania.

Leadership Certificate Program Workgroup Honored

The APCO Institute Leadership Certificate Program Workgroup was honored during the Leadership Luncheon in Baltimore with a Presidential Award designating them as the APCO Institute Course Development Workgroup of the Year.  The award was well deserved and APCO Institute sincerely congratulates the outstanding members whose efforts helped raised the bar for excellence in Public Safety Communications.

Congratulations to APCO's First Registered Public Safety Leaders

The first class of the APCO Institute Leadership Certificate Program graduated on August 6 during a ceremony that took place in the APCO Pavilion in Baltimore.  The graduates received their designation as an APCO Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL).  The APCO Institute Leadership Certificate Program is a comprehensive 12-month online program leading to the professional designation of Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL).  For more information on the APCO Institute Leadership Certificate Program, please visit www.apcoinstitute.org.

Lincoln Emergency Communications Receives P33 Certification

APCO Project 33 Certification was awarded to Lincoln Emergency Communications at the First General Business Session on August 5.  This year, Lincoln Emergency Communications' training curriculum meets the minimum standards as set forth by APCO Project 33 Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators.  Please visit http://www.apcointl.org/new/commcenter911/downloads/P33_Guidelines.pdf for more information about the APCO Project 33 certification program or contact 911services@apco911.org.

APCO News

Roll Out of AFC License Management

AFC has introduced a new service to help public safety agencies manage their licenses.  The service is compromised of three phases.  Phase one is preliminary call sign research where all call signs licensed to an agency are captured in one spread sheet.  The second phase is initial call sign review during which the call signs are reviewed to ensure that they are in good standing.  The third phase will be on-going monitoring of the license where the licensee will be notified of any pending filing with the FCC.  More information on this service is available at http://www.apcointl.com/frequency/licmgmt.html.

Standards Call to Action

APCO International is seeking public review and comment through August 20 for its first candidate American National Standard (ANS), The Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Communications Training Officers (CTO).  To review and comment, please visit http://www.apcointl.com/about/911/ansi_activity.php.

APCO International Job Services

Looking to make your next great hire? Let APCO International help you with your candidate  search by advertising your vacancy on the APCO Job Services board or in the APCO magazine -- or both!  Take advantage of the power of tapping the resources of the largest network of  public safety communications professionals in the world.  Join the hundreds who advertise  where public safety communications professionals look first.  Visit http://www.apcointl.com/services/jobs/ for more information.

From Washington

Does Government Work? No...Really.

It's hard to find a kind word for good old Uncle Sam these days.  "Washington is broken," was the blunt assessment of presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a recent debate.  But is it really that bad?  If you're a government worker, or have worked closely with the federal government, share your experience with Marketplace and inform our coverage of government.  Marketplace wants to learn about things both small and large that the government is getting right -- and wrong. And we are looking for people with first-hand knowledge to advise and inform our reporting, which reaches 8 million people every week.  Visit http://www.publicradio.org/public_insight_network/forms/cij/form_display.php?form_code=332befb99207 to tell us about your experience.

Conferences and Meetings

APCO International Accepting Session Proposals for 2008 Annual Conference

The Call for Papers is now open for the 74th Annual Conference & Exposition, to be held August 3-7, 2008 in Kansas City, Missouri. Submissions will only be accepted online at http://www.apco2008.org/abstract_submission.cfm.  For a complete list of submission requirements and evaluation criteria, please refer to http://www.apco2008.org/abstract_submission.cfm .  The submission deadline is October 1.  If you have further questions, please call APCO International, 386.322.2500 or 888.APCO.9-1-1.

Region 18 (Louisiana) 700 MHz Public Safety Planning Committee Announces its Next Meetings

The Region 18 (Louisiana) 700 MHz Public Safety Planning Committee announces its next three meetings.  The meetings are scheduled as follows: September 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Kenner Police Department in the Auditorium, 500 Veterans Drive, Kenner, Louisiana; October 24 at 9:00 a.m. at The Carter Plantation, 23475 Carter Trace, Springfield, Louisiana, and; November 14 at 10:00 a.m. at the at the State Claiborne Bldg, 1-155 North Dakota Room, 1201 N 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  The purpose of these meetings will be to review, discuss, and approve the latest draft of the 700 MHz Region 18 plan.  For more information contact William R. Vincent, Sr. at 337.291.5060 or eoc@lafayettegov.net.

2007 North Carolina NENA/APCO Annual Conference

The 2007 North Carolina NENA/APCO Annual Conference will be held September 9-12 in Sunset Beach, NC.  For more information visit http://www.ncapco.org/annual.htm.

Missouri APCO Chapter Conference

The Missouri APCO Chapter Conference will be held September 16-19 at the Capitol Plaza in Jefferson City, MO.  They are currently accepting presentation proposals for the conference. Visit http://www.moapco.org/ for more information.

Alaska Symposium for Emergency Communications

The 2007 Alaska Symposium for Emergency Communications hosted by Alaska NENA / APCO will be held at the Hawthorn Suites in Anchorage, Alaska, October 22-24.  For more information email gina.wheeler@ctsc.net or call 907-569-5672.

2007 Atlantic Chapter Conference Announces Supersession Speaker

The Atlantic Chapter announces world renowned forensic expert Dr. Henry Lee will be presenting one of its "Supersessions" at the 2007 Atlantic Chapter Conference and Business Meeting being held at the Mystic Marriott in Mystic, Conn. October 29-31.  Visit www.apco-atlantic.org for more information.

Wyoming Chapter Announces Annual Conference

The Wyoming Chapter Annual Conference will be held November 13-14 at the Holiday Inn in Casper, Wyoming.  Contact Bill Gordon at tpdadmin@hscounty.com for more information.

Training and Certification

Training & Mentoring Course Starts Oct. 3

Mark your calendar for the Chapter Officer Training & Mentoring online course scheduled to start on October 3. This six-week course is free to members and should answer all those questions you have about APCO but didn't know who to ask. Login at http://www.apconetforum.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?WebCode=LoginRequired&Site=APCOWeb using your email address and password (member number) and then click on "upcoming events" to register. Seating is limited - don't miss out!

Special Interest Web Seminar - Suicide Bombers - The Future of Domestic Terrorism

APCO will conduct a web seminar titled "Suicide Bombers - The Future of Domestic Terrorism"  on August 22 at 2:00p.m. EST. This session will discuss the issues associated with one of  the biggest threats looming on the horizon for public safety - domestic suicide bombings.  Topics will include the telecommunicator's role in responder safety, explosive event  information gathering and resource allocation after detonation. We will also discuss  secondary explosions and when first responders become the target.  Visit  http://www.apcointl.com/institute/webinars.htm.

Web Seminars

Join the APCO Institute each Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. EST for quality training and fun  interaction with your peers. Each web seminar is one hour long and qualifies for one continuing dispatch education (CDE) credit. For more information or to register, log onto the APCO Institute website at http://www.apcointl.com/institute/webinars.htm.

New Institute Training Schedule

APCO Institute will be introducing a regional training program in the fall of 2007. All of  the Institute's certification courses will be offered in select locations throughout the country, thus allowing agencies to plan in advance for their training needs. If your agency would like to participate and has a facility that will accommodate large groups and will be available for a minimum of three weeks, please email schatelk@apco911.org.

Receive High Quality Grant Writing Training at a Discount

Grant Writing USA provides the most highly sought after grants training in America and now, through a partnership with APCO Institute, APCO members can receive a $25 discount upon entering "APCO" when registering for any Grant Writing USA course!  Visit www.grantwritingusa.com to register.

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Attend one of our co-hosted classes!

Public Safety Telecommunicator 1, 6th Edition
Oregon, Il   September 10-14

Communications Training Officer
Wentzville, MO  August 21-23
  

Communications Center Supervisor 
Sebastian, Fl    Sept 10-12

Fire Service Communications 1st Edition
Albuquerque, NM August 14-17 

Telecommuicator's Role In Homeland Security    
Chattanooga, TN   August 17